Explosive-engine.



J. SPIESS.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111:0. so, 1911.

1,128,540, Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. SPIBSS.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1150. so, 1911.

1,128,540. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTC-LITHQ, WASHINGTON D. C.

I. SPIESS.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.'30, 1911.

1,128,540. Patented Feb. 16,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1H1; NORRIS PETERS 60., PHDTO-LITHQ, WASHINOTUM u. C

J. SPIESS. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 30, 1911.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lllllllllllllllll-llmm HE NORRIS PETERS cu, r-nufO -LITHQ, \VASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULES SPIESS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

Application filed December 30, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JULES SPIESS, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to explosive engines and more particularly to multiple cylinder engines of the four cycle type.

The primary object of my invention is the production of an explosive engine in which all gears and sprocket wheels and chains are dispensed with, excepting those required for starting the engine.

Another object of my invention is to so construct the engine that the cylinders thereof impart a rocking motion to a single shaft which in turn is connected with a second or main shaft in a manner to impart rotary motion thereto.

Another object is the provision of rotary valves, one for each cylinder, with the valves of the cylinders of each pair con nected and actuated by a single actuating device; to provide new and improved means for actuating said valves; and to actuate said means from a part having a rocking movement.

Still further objects are the provision of means for timing the explosion, said timing means being connected directly with the valves controlling the admission of the explosive mixture to and the exhaust of the burnt gases from the cylinders; and to otherwise improve on explosive engines now in use.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, in the arrangement of devices, and in the constructions, arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is an end view of an engine constructed according to my invention, a portion of the fly-Wheel being broken away to more clearly disclose the parts in rear thereof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4- 1, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 668,769.

66, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken through the upper end of one of the cylinders and its valve casing, showing the valve and its connected parts in longitudinal section. Fig. 8 is a transverse'section taken on line 88, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 99, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line 1010, Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The reference numeral 11 designates the crank-case which comprises three parts 12, 18, 28, and has lateral extensions 13 thereon serving as a means of supporting the engine. This part 12 of the crank-case comprises side walls 14:, a curved bottom wall 15 which may be separately formed from said side walls and attached thereto by means of screws 16, and an end wall 17. Mounted on said part 12 is the part 18 which is secured thereto by means of bolts 19. Connecting the side walls of the part 18 are bearings 20, as best shown in Fig. 5, in which is journaled a rock-shaft 21, and connecting the side walls of the part 12 are bearings 22 in which is journaled a crankshaft 23. Secured to said crank-shaft 23 and to a shaft 24 leading to transmission mechanism, or to some other part to be driven by the engine, is a fly-wheel 25 such as is commonly used in the type of explosive engines herein shown. Arranged at one end of said crank-shaft is its crank-arm 26 which has a wrist-pin 27 thereon confined within the part 28 arranged at one end of the parts 12 and 18. Closing the top of the part 28 is a hood 29 to which is fastened a bracket 30 supporting a fan 31 for cooling a Water radiator if used in connection with the engine.

Mounted in the end wall of the part 28 is a crank-shaft 32 which has a crank-arm 33 at its inner end within said part, said crankarm being axially connected with the wristpin 27 of the crank-shaft 23 and on said crank-shaft 32 is secured a pulley 3% around which and a pulley 35 on the spindle of the gated opening 40 and within said gear-case is arranged a spur-gear 4:1 which extends into the crank-case 15 through the opening 0 and is secured to a starting-shaft 42 arranged underneath the part 28 of the crankcase and the table 38, said starting-shaft being journaled in bearings 43, 44: and having secured thereon a clutch member 45 which is adapted to engage the clutch-member 46 on a crank-handle 47 slidably, mounted on said shaft and held against the clutchmember 45 by an expansionspring l8 surrounding said shaft and bearing with one end against the outer face of said crankhandle and with its other end against a nut 49 arranged at the extremity of said shaft. Said starting-shaft has a stop-collar 50 secured thereto which bears against the rear face of the bearing 4% depending from the table 38, and between the front face of said bearing and a collar 52 secured to said shaft is an expansion-spring 53 serving to hold said shaft in its outermost position, in which position the collar 50 is held against the rear face of the bearing 44. Said starting-shaft may be moved lengthwise by exerting pressure against the crank-handle 47 and n hen so moved the spur-gear 41 is brorght into engagement with a pinion 54 on the crank-shaft 23 and upon turning said crank-handle, said crank-shalt is caused to be rotated and through the intervention of the wrist-pin 27 the small crank-shaft and the pulley thereon, *ith its connection to the spindle of the magneto 37, the latter is actuated.

The rock-shaft 21 is arranged directly above the crank-shaft and has a crank-arm provided with a wrist-pin 56 and a link 57 connects the wrist-pin of the crank-shaft 28 with the wrist-pin 56 of the rock-shaft. With a view of causing the rotary movement of the crank-shaft to be converted into rocking movement, the crank-arm 55 on said rock-shaft is somewhat longer than the crank-arm 26 of the crankshaft so that the rotation of said last-mentioned crank-arm will merely cause oscillation of the crankarm on the rock-shaft, thus causing the latter to rock within its bearings 20.

Mounted on the crank-case '11 are the cylinders 58, 59, 60, 61. Said cylinders are preferably cast in pairs, the cylinders 58, 59 ctnstituting one pair, while the cylinders 60, 61 constitute the other pair. On the rocleshaft 21 in line with each pair of cylinders is secured a double rock-arm 62 having its ends bifurcated to receive the lower ends of piston-rods 63, to the upper end of each of which is pivetally secured the pistons 6% arranged for reciprocal movement -within the cylinders. the pistons of each pair of cylinders work in opposition, that is, when one of thepistons of each pair is at the end of itsdown- Owing to this arrangement ward movement, the other is at the end of its upward movement, and vice versa, and as the rock-arms 62 are arranged at the same angle, the pistons in one pair of cylinders are in the same position as those in the other, and as this engine is of the fourcycle type, when one of the pistons in one pair of cylinders is at the lower end of its stroke it is ready to exhaust the burnt gases upon its forward movement while the other piston in said pair is at its upper end and prepared for an explosion of the mixture compressed within its cylinder so as to be forced downward. The cylinder of the other pair in line with the cylinder having the piston of the first-mentioned pair at its lowermost point is ready to be forced upward and compress the explosive mixture drawn into it, while the other piston is ready to more downward to draw in a charge of the explosive mixture. li or this purpose, each cylinder has a valve casing 65 at its upper end and a spark-plug 66 in circuit with the magneto 37 and with the engine casing when suitable timing contacts, to be hereinafter described, are brought into electrical connection. The valve casings are preferably cast in piece with their respective cylinders and have inlet pipes 67 connected thereto, also exhaust pipes 68. Each valve-casing has a tapering bore in which a tapered rotatable valve 69 is fitted. The valves have stems 70 at their inner or small ends and stems or shafts 71 at their outer or large ends. The valves of corresponding cylinders have their axes coincident and are connected by couplings '72, each coupling having a flange 7 3 notched at its periphery, as at 7%, said notches being arranged at quarters and are adapted to be engaged by a retaining device 75 comprising a rod 76 guided for movement in a part projecting from one of the adjacent cylinders and having a roller 77 in its forked upper end. Each rod 76 is pressed upward to retain its roller '77 in contact with the flange 7 3 of its cooperating coupling by means of a spring 78 as best shown in Fig. 8.

Each valve 69 is made hollow and has an opening 7 9 in line with its inlet pipe 67 and exhaust pipe 68 and a second opening 80 in line with an opening or port 81 in the top of its coiiperating cylinder so that when the openings 7 9 in the valve are brought into registration with its inlet pipe 67, the explosive mixture may be drawn into it to be delivered into the cylinder when the opening 80 registers with the opening 81 in said cylinder and at a certain time the opening 80 allows the escape of the burnt gases from the cylinder, which escapes through the exhaust pipe 68. a The tapering bore of each valve-casing is closedat its large end by a cap 82 having its-end wall 83 spaced from the large end of the valve. Surrounding the spindle or shaft 71 of the valve, which passes through said end wall 88, is an expansionspring 8T serving to hold the valve securely in its seat and automatically take up the surface wear of the valve caused by its rotation. To permit of this, the stems '70 of coinciding valves are stepped and overlapped, as at 85, sufficient clearance 86 being left between the extremity of each stem and the shoulder of its cooperatin stem to permit of this.

On each valve stem or shaft 71 is secured a timer-casing 87 having spring-pressed contacts 88 which bear against the periphery of a timing dish 89 secured to said shaft so as to rotate therewith, said timing dish being, in the main, constructed of non-con ducting material and having a contact 90, set in a peripheral notch formed therein so that when brought into engagement with the contacts 88, an electric circuit is established to ignite the explosive mixture in its cot'perating cylinder, there being one timer for each cylinder. Each valve-spindle or shaft 71 has a reduced portion 91 to which is secured a reel 92 having two circular grooves 93, 9%. In each groove are arranged two rollers 95 which are rotatable on pins 96 and secured to the shaft 71 in each groove is a substantially S-shaped guide 97, having opposite ends terminating at said rollers.

Secured to the rear end of the rock shaft 2] is a double rock-arm 98 to opposite ends of which is secured two pairs of actuating rods 99, each pair being directed upward for co-action with the rollers 95 in one of the reels 92. Said operating rods are drawn inward or toward the vertical center of the engine by means of a retractile spring 100 having one end secured to one pair of actuating rods and its opposite end to the other pair. At their upper or free ends the actuating rods have hook-shaped portions 102, preferably of fiber or some other non-conducting material, which are adapted to suecessively engage the rollers 95. one of said rods extending into each groove 93, 94:. By reason of the connection of said rods to the double arm 98, one rod of each pair is in its lowermost position when the other is in its uppermost position and when said rods are drawn downward they cause the reel 92 to rotate through a quarter of a circle. During the upward movement and the hookedshaped ends of said rods they come in contact with the curved edges 101 of the S- shaped guides 97 and are directed onto the rollers 95. It is apparent from the description of these operating rods that during each rocking movement of the rock-shaft 21 each reel 92 is caused to make one quarter of a complete revolution, thus turning the timers and the two valves co-acting therewith. a quarter of a revolution also.

The operation of the engine is as follows :-When starting the engine the operator grasps the starting-crank i? and forces the same inward to bring the spur-gear 4:1 in mesh with the spur-gear 5t and upon rotating the starting-shaft, motion is imparted to the crank-shaft 23, which in turn rotates the magneto 37 and causes the rockshaft 21 to rock in its bearings, thus caus ing the actuating rods 99 to rotate the timer and valves. During this action the pistons are also caused to move within their cylinders and are so arranged and actuated from the rock-shaft that when one piston draws in the explosive mixture, a second is actuated upon by the explosion within its cylinder, the third compresses mixture within its cylinder and the fourth exhausts the burnt gases. he succession of this operation in the cylinders can be arranged as desired, by setting the timers accordingly.

It is apparent that the cylinders may be otherwise paired than herein shown and that a greater or less number of cylinders may be employed, as such changes fall clearly within the skill of any mechanic versed in the art to which this invention relates. I, therefore, do not deem it necessary to illustrate or describe modifications embodying such changes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

1. in explosive engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, a piston within each cylinder, a shaft having a crank-arm and being journaled to rock, an arm secured to said shaft and extending therefrom in opposite directions, piston-rods connecting said pistons with the extremities of said arm. a second shaft having connection with said firstmentioned shaft in a manner to convert the rocking movement of the latter to rotary movement.

2. An explosive engine comprising a plurality of cvlinders. valves controlling the admission of the explosive mixture to the cylinders and the exhau t of the burnt gases therefrom. a roclcshaft having an arm extending therefrom in opposite directions. gearless mechanism between said rock-shaft and said valves for actuating the latter, a piston within each cylinder, a piston-rod connecting one extremity of said arm with each piston, and a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said rock-shaft.

3. An explosive engine comprising a cvlinder, a piston within said cylinder, a shaft operatively connected with said piston, a rotatable valve for said cylinder, an explosion timing-device having one of its contact members rotatable with said valve, and operative connection between said shaft and said valve to cause intermittent rotary movement of said valve and timing-device.

4:. An explosive engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, a rotatable valve for each cylinder, said valves being in alinement and operatively connected to cause one to rotate with the other, a piston within each cylinder, a shaft operatively connected with said pistons, and operative connections between said shaft and said valve.

5. An explosive engine comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in two pairs, one pair being alongside the other, a valve for each cylinder with the axes of the valves of corresponding cylinders co-incident, said valves having stems, means for coupling the stems of co-inciding valves, a piston within each cylinder, a shaft operatively connected with each piston, and means for intermittently rotating said valves, said means having connection with one of the valves of each pair of cylinders.

6. An explosive engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, intermittently rotating valves for said cylinders, pistons within said cylinders, a rock-shaft operatively connected with said pistons, a crank-shaft operatively connected with said rock-shaft, and valve actuating mechanism operated by said rockshaft.

7. An engine comprising two cylinders, a rotatable valve for each cylinder having a stem, a coupling connecting said stems to cause said valves to rotate together, said coupling having an outstanding flange provided with notches, a springpressed rod having a roller adapted to engage said notches, a piston within each cylinder, a shaft operatively connected with said pistons, and valve-operating mechanism between one of said valves and said shaft.

8. An engine, comprising two cylinders, a tapered rotatable valve for each cylinder having stems at their small ends, said stems being stepped at their extremities and overlapped, a coupling surrounding the overlapped extremities of said stems, a piston within each cylinder, a shaft operatively connected with said pistons, and valveactuating mechanism connecting one of said valves with said shaft.

9. An explosive engine comprising a cylinder having a valve-casing provided with a tapering-bore, a tapered valve fitting into said bore and controlling the admission of the explosive mixture to and the exhaust of the burnt gases from said cylinder, said valve having an axial stem at its large end, a cap fitting onto said stem and secured to said valve-casing, an expansion spring surrounding said stem and bearing with one against the large end of said valve and with its other end against the inner face of the end wall of said cap, a piston within said cylinder, a shaft operatively connected with said piston, and means actuated by said shaft to cause rotary movement of said valve.

10. An engine comprising a cylinder having a valve-casing in communication with said cylinder and having an inlet port and an outlet port, a rotary valve having ports allowing the admission of the explosive mixture to said cylinder and the exhaust of burnt gases therefrom, a piston within said cylinder, a rock-shaft operatively connected with said piston, a crank-shaft operatively connected with said rock-shaft, a doublearm on said rock-shaft, and actuating mechanism for said valve including two operating rods having one of their ends connected to the extremities of said double arm and their other ends hook-shaped, and mechanism actuated by said hook-shaped ends and adapted to actuate said valve.

11. An engine comprising a cylinder, a rotatable-valve controlling the admission of the explosive mixture to the cylinder and the exhaust of the burnt gases therefrom, said valve having an axial stem, a piston within said cylinder, a rock-shaft operatively connected with said piston, a crankshaft operatively connected with said rockshaft, a reel on the stem of said valve having two circumferential grooves, a pair of rollers spanning each groove and arranged at diametrically opposite points, a guide between each pair of rollers, a double-arm on said rock-shaft, and a pair of operating rods connected with one of their ends to the extremities of said arms and having their other ends hook-shaped and adapted to engage said rollers and rotate said valve.

1n testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULES SPIESS. Witnesses:

EMIL NEUHART, JACOB OBERST, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

